Saskatoon mayor tells those interested in weekend rally to ‘give your head a shake’

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark is using a couple of his social media platforms to denounce what’s being called a “Freedom Rally” this weekend.

Clark took to Facebook and Twitter on Monday, posting a series of messages indicating his exasperation that the rally was scheduled to go ahead this weekend. A convoy is expected to begin in Davidson and make its way to downtown Saskatoon.

“It is very frustrating to see people going out and undermining all of the efforts that the rest of us have taken,” he tweeted, referring to efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19. “I expect that there (will) be enforcement of the public health orders that are in place, and that the organizers of these events are investigated and held to account.”

One of this weekend’s rally organizers, Mark Friesen, tweeted that if people want to wear masks, they were welcome to do so, and “you can social distance if that’s your thing.”

At least one response to the call for participants came from someone named Mike Gandey, who replied: “Perfect I’m coming from Sherwood Park (Alberta).”

Clark told anyone thinking about attending the rally to “give your head a shake.”

He pleaded for residents not to “join a rally that tells people to go out and endanger the lives of others,” adding it’s time to support health-care workers who are fighting to keep many people alive.

He gave kudos to those people, businesses and others whom he said had been following public health orders.

A rally held last weekend in Regina drew several hundred attendees, many of whom did not wear masks or maintain physical distancing. Prior to the event, Premier Scott Moe also sent a message via Twitter.

“I understand a large anti-mask rally is being planned today in Regina,” he tweeted. “I hope those attending would consider how insignificant the inconveniences they are being asked to follow really are compared to the pain of losing a loved one.”

Two organizers of that event were each fined $2,800, according to Regina police.

Another demonstration at Kiwanis Park in Saskatoon in mid-November also attracted a large crowd of supporters. According to Saskatoon police, one organizer was fined $2,800 in that instance.